THE Met Office has issued alerts for large areas of Scotland while schools in the Borders, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire have all remained shut.

A snow covered road in the Scottish Borders as heavy snow hits areas around Scotland

HEAVY snow has closed schools and roads in the east of Scotland today, with forecasters warning of more blizzard conditions and bitterly cold temperatures.

The Met Office issued alerts for central Scotland, Tayside, Fife, Grampian, the Highlands and the Borders, where 4in-8in (10cm-20cm) of snow was expected to fall, accompanied by strong to gale-force winds in some areas.

People should be prepared for the risk of disruption to travel and power supplies as temperatures hover around the freezing mark, forecasters said.

Several roads were closed in the Grampian area, including the A941 Dufftown to Rhynie route and the B974 Banchory to Fettercairn road.

The A93 Aboyne to Ballater route was passable with care.

Elsewhere, there were warnings of high winds on the Forth Road Bridge.

Drivers were advised to be aware of reduced visibility, obscured road markings and the risk of ice patches.

Rail routes remained unaffected but there were several flight cancellations between London City, Heathrow and the East Midlands to Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports.

In the Borders, where council officials held a teleconference with Met Office advisers this morning, more than a dozen schools were closed.

A statement said: "Council officials are monitoring the weather as the Borders continues to be battered by heavy snow, gale-force winds and freezing temperatures.

"The snow has reached the Borders area later than anticipated and we are not experiencing the main impact of the snow yet.

"School transport is being cancelled for all pupils.

"Parents are being advised that only pupils who can walk to school today should be attending their school due to the amber warning that's in place."

The Strathclyde area was expected to escape the worst of the winter weather, with "occasional snow" and temperatures around 2C (35.6F).

Holyrood Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "Motorists and public transport users should factor the weather and high likelihood of disruption into their travel plans, staying abreast of live travel information by listening to local radio reports and checking online sources.

"While we have implemented a raft of improvements ranging from higher than ever salt stocks to a strengthened fleet of gritters, the public must play their part by making full use of the vast sources of communications available.

"Drivers should take the road conditions into consideration, leaving extra time for journeys if necessary.

"I would urge the public to stay vigilant and tuned to local radio reports and the Traffic Scotland website as circumstances could quickly change."

Assistant Chief Constable Allan Moffat, speaking on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "Weather warnings are in place for many parts of the country, particularly in the east.

"Check conditions and travel advice before setting off and ensure that both you and your vehicle are adequately prepared for the journey.

"Allow yourself plenty of time and make sure that you have sufficient fuel and supplies such as warm clothing, food and water in case you are delayed.

"When you are out on the road, remain vigilant and continue listening to weather and travel reports."

PA/Andrew Milligan

Salt is thrown on footpaths next to golf buggys at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire

The harsh weather has claimed the lives of two people in England, as temperatures continued to plummet at the weekend.

A 25-year-old woman found collapsed in the snow could have died after falling in sub-zero temperatures after a night out in Kent.

Police are still investigating the cause of death but confirmed they are looking at the possibility that the woman, who was believed to be visiting the area, got into difficulties as she made her way to her sister's house, which was near to where she was found.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "There are other possibilities we are looking out but one theory is that this is a tragic accident where a young woman was on her way home from a night out, but she didn't make it to where she was staying.

"We don't know if that was because of the cold, or she slipped or she was drunk or she became ill."

Earlier, police said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the death was not being treated as suspicious but it was unexplained.

And last night, a man was killed when the car he was driving left the road in wintry conditions ewain Essex.

Police found that a Ford Mondeo had left the road and crashed into with a tree on the embankment.

The driver, a 59-year-old man from the Colchester area, died at the scene.

His passenger, a 57-year-old woman, also from the Colchester area, was taken to Colchester General Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.